Metropolitan Area
Planning Council

Meeting Summary
Metropolitan Initiative Forum
Metropolitan Boston Region
Boston, Massachusetts
August 1, 1997

Attendees

Arata, John, President, Capital Environmental; Bernstein, Scott, President, Center for Neighborhood Technology; Bledsoe, Thomas, Executive Director, Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership; Brett, James T., President, New England Council; Burrington, Stephen H., Senior Attorney, Conservation Law Foundation; Casagrande, Lou, President/CEO,The Children's Museum; Constable, William G., Immediate Past President, Metropolitan Area Planning Council; Easler, Richard A., Treasurer, Metropolitan Area Planning Council; Glynn, Astrid, Director of Transit, Exec. Office of Transportation & Construction; Greendale, Mary, Dept. of Housing and Community Development; Hart, Maureen, Hart Environmental Data; Hilferty, Joanne, President & CEO, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries; Hill-Lawrence, Rev. Lena, Executive Director, Mattapan-Dorchester Churches in Action; Hacobian, Mossik, Executive Director, Urban Edge; Hendricks, Bracken, Sustainable Development Coordinator, U.S. EPA; Johnson, Alan, Regina Villa Associates; Johnson, Sara, Chief Regional Economist, DRI/McGraw-Hill; Kearney, Dennis J., President, Kearney & Gleason; Lashman, Rebekah, Regional Employment Board Policy Coordinator, Boston Private Industry Council; Lauricella, Anita, Director of Business Development & Planning, New England Foundation for the Arts; Leaner, Marie, Center for Neighborhood Technology; Lewis, Dolores, Director, ChildCare & Early Education, Dept. of Transitional Assistance; Lipman, John, Director of Growth Planning, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs; Loh, Penn, Research Director, Alternatives for Community & Environment; Markle, Peter, Division Administrator, Mass. Division, Federal Highway Administration; Mayo-Perez, Linda, Executive Director, Federated Dorchester Neighborhood Houses; Meade, Peter, Executive Vice President, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mass; Mello, Mary Beth, Federal Transit Administration; Menzies, Ian S., Emeritus Fellow, McCormack Institute, UMass-Boston; Moynihan, John J., Director of Development, Planning Office for Urban Affairs; O'Brien, Julia, Director of Planning, Metropolitan District Commission; Penney, Sherry H., Chair, Challenge to Leadership; Pessek, Bob, City of Boston; Richardson, Marlena, Program Director, Boston Fair Housing Commission; Rocha, Tom, Manager of Employment Development, Urban League of Eastern Mass.; Rogers, Dennis, Boston Private Industry Council; Sepuveda, Frank, Director of Community Development, SNI; Serafin, Lisa, Asst. Director of Economic Development, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce; Shepard, Grace S., President, Metropolitan Area Planning Council; Siegal, Dina, Director of Federal Relations, Mayor's Office, Boston; Siegenthaler, Mark, Selectman,Town of Bedford; Simms, Renee, BankBoston; Soule, David C., Executive Director, Metropolitan Area Planning Council; Spitzer, Martin, Executive Director, President's Council on Sustainable Development; Torres, Antonio J., Lecturer, Tufts University; Walker, Richard, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; Williams, Victoria L., Director, Office of Civil Rights, Boston; Wood, Robert, Senior Fellow, McCormack Institute, UMass-Boston; and Woodbury, Robert L., Director, McCormack Institute, UMass-Boston.

Challenge to Leadership

Overview

The Metropolitan Initiative is a partnership between national foundations and the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and is in tandem with the President's Council for Sustainable Development. The Metropolitan Initiative serves as a catalyst to refocus and strengthen the relationships between the federal government and major metropolitan areas.

The Boston region's Metropolitan Initiative Forum convened at the Press Room in Boston's Omni Parker House on August 1, 1997. The event brought together selected representatives of government, business, academia, and the community at-large in order to join diverse, multi-stakeholder, multi-sector constituencies in conversation. This collaborative group discussed opportunities and challenges to the realization of sustainable development at the local, state, regional, and national levels.

Welcome and introductions were provided by Grace Shepard, President of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council; James Brett, President of the New England Council; Steven Burrington, Senior Attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation; and Sherry Penney, Chair for Challenge to Leadership. Martin Spitzer, Executive Director for the President's Council on Sustainable Development, provided the framework for the forum. Scott Bernstein, President for the Center for Neighborhood Technology, challenged the group to creatively imagine a collaborative relationship with the federal government while presenting examples and opportunity areas for partnerships. An outline which summarizes the forum discussion follows.

Metropolitan Boston Successes and Opportunities

"Metropolitan Boston must put the notion of perfection aside, and figure out how things can work better cooperatively"
--Facilitator: Peter Meade, Executive V.P., Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts

1.

1. Boston's Government Center
   • With its imperfections, still example of cooperation
2. Boston's creation of Boston Redevelopment Authority (B.R.A.) (circa 1960's)
   • People began to talk about a "better Boston" in larger vision
3. Boston Harbor cleanup
   • Example of current success
4. Suburbs Recognize City-Suburb Link
   • e.g., MetroWest and North Shore working together, but need to broaden their view
5. Boston as an education center: schools presently improving
   • Need to tie city and suburb system together
   • Need to improve high school level
6. Successful Metro Open Space
   • System established circa 1890
   • Emerald Necklace
   • Natural resource based
7. Metro Boston Water System
   • Enjoys 50 years of success
8. Sewage
   • Special metro district established
9. Massachusetts Bays Transit Authority (MBTA)
   • Boston among first in country to establish system of mass transit
10. "Money is Power"
    • Metropolitan cooperation slowed when federal funding stopped (circa 1930's)
    • Funding amount will effect quality of outcome
    • Funding will allow metro Boston to expand on current successful systems
11. Planning for Growth
    • Metro area lost nearly 50% of its open land/green space since the 1950's
    • Growth patterns, or "how we grow" is significant. Boston needs to plan more creatively and get away from traditional zoning. Most downtowns could not be redeveloped as they are under present zoning. We need to change. Planning and zoning ordinances are significant in guiding development of communities that people want to live in
    • Coordination of planning for water, open space, housing, transportation, and other infrastructure
    • Need for diversity of housing stock to generate diversity of residents and students. (e.g., zoning may effect quality of school system. Large lot zoning leads to lack of diversity in schools)
12. Challenges related to "Welfare-to-Work"
    • Many high school graduates not ready for work/jobs available
    • Must not encourage individuals to move out of metro area due to high costs
    • Need child care programs. Could establish statewide "Office of Child Care Services"
    • Transportation (to work and to child care)
    • Needs for housing in metro region to support families
    • Must be inclusive, not exclusive in discussions so we do not limit ideas
13. Business
    • Workplace exchange programs are currently too fragmented
    • Business and jobs are regional in nature
    • Business community must participate more in order to have success (e.g., In Indianapolis, businesses develop opportunities and work on transportation issues together. More company-by-company in Boston)
14. Metro discussions successful in bringing parties together (business, community, educators, etc.)
    • e.g., "Challenge To Leadership"
15. Housing Policy
    • Snob Zoning Act drafted in 1960's. Boston region still has exclusionary housing
    • Housing equity as critical as equity in education
    • Use of federal $$ to desegregate suburbs was not successful
16. Transportation
    • Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) has had impact. More emphasis on planning needed
    • Recent reorganization of Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is positive
    • Good Metro Transit System in place but always working to improve and expand
    • State finance plan for establishment of Metropolitan Highway System (MHS)
    • Need to integrate transportation and land-use
    • Federal $$ for planning related to transportation
    • Boston's transportation system is better than most metro areas
17. Central Artery Tunnel Project
    • Provided area wide consensus around large infrastructure improvement
    • Community must concentrate on surface area created when artery is gone
18. Community Development
    • Community development at neighborhood level is working well, and serves as an important component in Boston. Allows people to work across race and class boundaries
    • Public v. Private distrust. Attitudes toward power structure difficult to change.

Toward More Effective Regional Cooperation

"In metropolitan Boston, job availability is up, and unemployment is low. We must work to use this existing framework effectively"
--Facilitator: Sara Johnson, Chief Regional Economist, DRI/McGraw

1. Promote Interlocal Collaboration
   • Prop 2 ½ and tax based competition hinders cooperation
   • Six-community urban compact for "Urban Ring" was successful in providing vision for future development
   • Boston mayoral leadership is key for cooperation. Mayor Menino's "Regionalization Commission" a good start
   • Applications that won Executive Office of Environmental Affairs "Planning for Growth" grants were from multi-community groups
   • Cities and towns strive for independence but will cooperate on their borders and come together around common problems. Communities take care of themselves first as a natural practice
2. Promote Grassroots Involvement
   • Boston is a livable "tapestry", and its quality of life is derived from the grassroots. Need better grassroots organization
   • Need increased support of urban/local organizations
   • Need grassroots access to decision making centers (e.g., currently no room for neighborhood perspectives in state brownfields project).
   • First Community Bank offers urban area support. Development corporations, small businesses, churches are other possible sources of support
3. Promote State Involvement
   • Fragmentation and no linkage within and across systems in housing, employment, training, welfare, etc. (e.g., no coordination between 150 housing authorities and CDCs)
   • State government works with individual over collective communities
4. Promote Federal Involvement
   • Federal government should provide direction. Key decisions and funding currently comes from court orders, legislatures "under the gun", or authoritarian agencies. System not regional or democratic
   • Federal highways encourage sprawl. Public transit should be free like highways
   • Federal finance role is needed
5. Provide Common Goals
   • Build involvement through pilot projects coordinated through existing networks (e.g., noise control, Harbor Islands, pedestrian access)
   • "Making Boston a better city is not a spectator sport. It demands participation"
   • People will cooperate around jobs. A good economy masks the necessity for regional vision
   • Provide a role for media
6. Support Regional Planning
   • Metro Boston regional development plan is "MetroPlan 2000", adopted by region in 1990.
     State agencies have not bought into Metro Plan 2000, and state controls money
   • Regional planning agencies are not well-funded. Limited funding is for transportation planning only. $$ should be for information, not solely transportation
   • Tie funding for infrastructure to concentrated development centers (CDCs). There is a need. MAPC received 50 applications for designation

The Federal Role in Metropolitan Cooperation

The city of Boston "bottomed out" in the 1970's but has been experiencing an upward trend ever since. Suburbs still believe the city is declining. Ironically, crime statistics between the city and suburbs are parallel."
--Facilitator: Richard Walker, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

1. Federal Housing Policy
   • Federal Housing Policy existed during suburbanization (circa 1940's-1970's) Can we develop a new one?
   • In metro Boston, 74,000 families are on welfare, and over 50% are on subsidized housing. Families on public assistance will be subject to 24 month limit
   • Need state government for siting, and federal government for resources. Local creativity can make federal $$ go further
   • Need more affordable housing units outside of Boston. Suburbs view housing as a net tax loss
   • Many people would prefer to live closer to city, but live near Rt. 495 or other major metro corridors to be near work or due to costs
   • HUD has improved dramatically. Is being very flexible and innovative
   • Need expanded job, housing and transportation opportunities to allow low-moderate income families to live outside of core city (in suburbs)
   • Public housing rental income increases as income increases. Inability to pay if cannot find jobs
   • Home mortgage interest deduction is a subsidy often larger than Section 8 subsidy for low income housing
2. Needed to Promote Metropolitan Cooperation
   • Education regarding existing programs
   • Knowledge of high quality regional schools
   • Need revenue-producing options for localities such as linkage and transfer taxes. Currently, revenue needs of local communities are increasing as federal $$ are decreasing
   • For major projects, get all parties to the table to determine overall goals and local needs
   • Campaign for sustainable communities similar in emphasis to anti-smoking campaign
   • Provide information on importance of goals
   • Ensure funding streams are consistent with goals
   • Look at tax structure. Need tax base. Tax revenue drives local development pressure within each municipality
   • Coordinate policies with funding
   • Must address issue from a global versus domestic perspective
   • The region must roll up its sleeves to create networks of organizations and forums to promote and support sustainable development

Follow-up

Through the efforts of the President's Council on Sustainable Development and the Center for Neighborhood Technology, discussion highlights for Boston's Metropolitan Initiative Forum will be combined with those from eleven other cities nationwide to craft detailed implementation recommendations for President Clinton and other governmental leaders. It has been proposed that pilot programs be developed in a small number of metropolitan areas which might, by Executive Order, test a variety of strategies, including: 1) creative uses of federal money; 2) flexible regulations to enable improved community and business performance; and 3) empowerment of local governments and citizens through better access to information and data. A representative from each participating metropolitan area will be asked to visit Washington, D.C. to partake in further discussion on the national level.

The August 1 Boston Metropolitan forum began discussions which served to aid in the design of federal-regional relationships in the region. The Boston region must continue to do more by reprioritizing and repackaging its priorities. Event co-sponsors agreed to take on this charge, and resolved to continue these discussions on the state, regional, and local levels.

Event Sponsors

Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2125 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 278-4800

The Center for Neighborhood Technology is a 19-year-old Chicago non-profit organization which promotes healthy communities which have a clean, livable, sustainable environment, empowered residents and institutions, and a local economy with good paying jobs. The Center's work is grounded in Chicago--its neighborhoods and metropolitan area--but includes extensive engagement in national policy issues.

Metropolitan Area Planning Council, 60 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111 (617) 451-2770

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is a regional planning agency representing 101 cities and towns in the metropolitan Boston area. MAPC serves as a forum for state and local officials to address issues of regional importance. Council membership consists of community representatives, gubernatorial appointees, and state agencies who collaborate in the development of comprehensive plans and recommendations in areas of population and employment, transportation, economic development, regional growth and the environment.

New England Council, 250 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 (617) 437-0304

The New England Council (NEC) is a partnership of business, public agencies, universities, hospitals, and non-profit organizations throughout the New England region. The Council's agenda focuses on issues that directly effect the performance of New England's economy. NEC's primary mission is to identify and support public policies and programs that will stimulate sustained economic growth, such as international trade, economic development, technology and defense conversion. The Council continues to maintain a leadership position in fostering pivotal policies that support regional advancement in health care, education, energy and environmental protection.

Conservation Law Foundation, 62 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110, (617) 350-0990

The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) works to solve the environmental problems that threaten the people, natural resources and communities of New England. CLF's advocates use law, economics and science to design and implement strategies that conserve natural resources, protect public health, and promote vital communities in our region. Founded in 1966, CLF is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. It has offices in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Challenge to Leadership, 60 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111, (617) 451-2770

Challenge to Leadership (CTL) is a forum and network to promote collaboration among leaders from business, government, labor, religious, educational, and civic institutions in Greater Boston. Begun in 1987 under the leadership of Cardinal Bernard Law, Challenge to Leadership has initiated twenty projects carried out by leaders and institutions that participate in Challenge's network.

For Further Information

For additional information or a transcription of the event's opening remarks, please contact Lori Prew at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council at (617) 451-2770 x2042.